Two things I discovered about Mac OS X today...

Posted:
in macOS edited January 2014
...am I way behind the curve?



1. I know this wasn't in 10.0, but I'm not sure when, after that, it appeared. Apple-Tab cycles between open apps in the dock. But in Jaguar (And possibly 10.1.something), Apple-Tab will first cycle between the two apps you're using most often, and then start flipping along the others. This is Incredibly Useful?, because for the most part I just switch between two apps.



2. The default behavior for Mac OS X is to open a new Get Info window for each file you have selected. However, if you hold down Option when selecting it from the menu, it changes to Show Inspector, and you get a floating window that shows info only for the currently selected file.



Thank you to the lovely Mr. <a href="http://radio.weblogs.com/0100676/"; target="_blank">Ken Bereskin</a> for number 2.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 24
    cool.
  • Reply 2 of 24
    hobbeshobbes Posts: 1,252member
    [quote]Originally posted by Belle:

    [QB]1. I know this wasn't in 10.0, but I'm not sure when, after that, it appeared. Apple-Tab cycles between open apps in the dock. But in Jaguar (And possibly 10.1.something), Apple-Tab will first cycle between the two apps you're using most often, and then start flipping along the others. This is Incredibly Useful?, because for the most part I just switch between two apps.<hr></blockquote>



    Yup, it was introduced in Jaguar. It's a smart compromise. Now... theoretically... I don't need to wait for LiteSwitchX to be updated for Jaguar any more.



    Almost.



    [ 09-25-2002: Message edited by: Hobbes ]</p>
  • Reply 3 of 24
    actually the behavior of Mac OS X's cmd-tab still sucks compared to the equivalent but far smarter alt-tab of Windows.
  • Reply 4 of 24
    telomartelomar Posts: 1,804member
    1. Was available before Jaguar. I remember noticing it originally in 10.1.



    2. Came with Jaguar. People complained about always have a "live" option however not having it can also be annoying at times.
  • Reply 5 of 24
    kickahakickaha Posts: 8,760member
    [quote]Originally posted by cygsid:

    <strong>actually the behavior of Mac OS X's cmd-tab still sucks compared to the equivalent but far smarter alt-tab of Windows.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    How is having it just cycle through a list sorted in the order in which you opened apps any smarter than cycling through a list sorted by the ordering in the Dock?



    At least with the Dock version, the user has *some* control and visual feedback as to the expected ordering.



    Very slick to have the two most frequently be the first ones though. That just made it useful to me again.
  • Reply 6 of 24
    [quote]Originally posted by cygsid:

    <strong>actually the behavior of Mac OS X's cmd-tab still sucks compared to the equivalent but far smarter alt-tab of Windows.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    What the hell does that mean? Equivalent but better? Huh? How is the windows implementation any better? Face it, windows UI has nothing on the OS X UI.
  • Reply 7 of 24
    [quote]Originally posted by cygsid:

    <strong>actually the behavior of Mac OS X's cmd-tab still sucks compared to the equivalent but far smarter alt-tab of Windows.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    What's so great about alt-tab in Windows? Honestly, I don't know because I haven't used it in Windows.



    Although in OS X I don't use it, either. Since I keep the dock shown all the time, it's easier to switch between apps by clicking on an app's icon. More often, I switch between documents by clicking on the document's window. In OS X this is easier than in Windows because I can click on a single document and ONLY that window comes forward, and not every window in that application. I like this document-centric philosophy of OS X more than the app-centric philosophy of OS 9 and Windows.
  • Reply 8 of 24
    telomartelomar Posts: 1,804member
    The only difference between the Windows version and the mac version is the windows version cycles through all open windows, whether they are the same app or not. The mac version only cycles through apps.



    The reason for that is largely because of how Windows handles open windows though.
  • Reply 9 of 24
    Hmmm!



    It's posts like these that make me think I should write a book or something to share all the Mac OS X tips and tricks I know that others might not... maybe, just maybe... Naaaah.
  • Reply 10 of 24
    bellebelle Posts: 1,574member
    [quote]Originally posted by Brad:

    <strong>It's posts like these that make me think I should write a book or something to share all the Mac OS X tips and tricks I know that others might not... maybe, just maybe... Naaaah.</strong><hr></blockquote>

    A book?! And charge for it? You capitalist pig!



    Ken Bereskin is giving this stuff away for free on his website. Mind you, he must have made a bunch of $$$ helping to design and code OS X.
  • Reply 11 of 24
    [quote]Originally posted by Belle:

    <strong>A book?! And charge for it? You capitalist pig!</strong><hr></blockquote>Well, I'd give away the PDF to AppleInsider admins and moderators for free.

    Just make the lowly proletariats cough up the cash.



    Interesting page that guy Ken has. Hopefully by the time he's done with the 150 tips there'll be something there I didn't already know. <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />



    [ 09-26-2002: Message edited by: Brad ]</p>
  • Reply 12 of 24
    bellebelle Posts: 1,574member
    [quote]Originally posted by Brad:

    <strong>Well, I'd give away the PDF to AppleInsider admins and moderators for free.

    Just make the lowly proletariats cough up the cash. </strong><hr></blockquote>

    Ah, well that's okay then.

    [quote]<strong>Interesting page that guy Ken has.</strong><hr></blockquote>

    "That guy Ken"?! He's the Mac OS X Product Manager.

    [quote]<strong>Hopefully by the time he's done with the 150 tips there'll be something there I didn't already know.</strong><hr></blockquote>

    Yah yah, whatever. Nobody likes a smartass. Besides, don't you have something more important to be doing?



  • Reply 13 of 24
    escherescher Posts: 1,811member
    [quote]Originally posted by Belle:

    <strong>Apple-Tab cycles between open apps in the dock. But in Jaguar (And possibly 10.1.something), Apple-Tab will first cycle between the two apps you're using most often, and then start flipping along the others.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    That's certainly an improvement. But in terms of an application switcher, it still doesn't do the job for me. I don't always know which app I used last, I shouldn't have to. To get visual feedback from Apple's dock switcher you have to look down at the dock. I much prefer Michael Kamprath's <a href="http://www.keyboardmaestro.com"; target="_blank">Keyboard Maestro</a> (the successor to Program Switcher from OS 9). KM pops up a window which displays all the running apps in a vertical list along with their icons. Much better UI in my book.



    I know you can work faster if you are aware of your computing environment's state at any time (and use keyboard shortcuts). But you shouldn't have to be. I prefer the Keyboard Maestro interface because it's in my face.



    Give it a try!



    Escher



    PS: One major annoyance is that Apple disabled access to command-tab for 3d party apps in Jaguar. This means that Keyboard Maestro and other 3d party application switchers have to use a different keyboard combination and can't completely replace Apple's dock switcher. Major PITA!
  • Reply 14 of 24
    telomartelomar Posts: 1,804member
    [quote]Originally posted by Escher:

    <strong>



    To get visual feedback from Apple's dock switcher you have to look down at the dock.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Don't take offence to this but when I hear something like that I have to wonder exactly how lazy it is some people have become. Even with a 23" screen you can take in the bottom of the screen with ease.
  • Reply 15 of 24
    escherescher Posts: 1,811member
    [quote]Originally posted by Escher:

    <strong>PS: One major annoyance is that Apple disabled access to command-tab for 3d party apps in Jaguar.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    BTW: I submitted the message below on Apple's <a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/feedback/[/url"; target="_blank">Mac OS X Feedback</a> page. If you agree, please complain too!



    [quote]Dear Mac OS X team:



    With the introduction of Jaguar, Apple prevents 3rd party applications from overrideing the built-in command-tab keyboard shortcut to switch applications. This restriction should be reversed because it significantly reduces the user interface options which Apple claims to support in OS X.



    A large number of Mac users took advantage of Michael Kamprath's Program Switcher under OS 9 (and prior System versions) for many years. Program Switcher offered a more sophisticated application switcher, accessed by the command-tab keyboard combination. Mr. Kamprath introduced Keyboard Maestro to serve the same function (and many more) under OS X. For a year a half, OS X users have been able to use Keybaord Maestro to override OS X's inferior application switcher, while continuing to use command-tab to switch applications. Unfortunately, Jaguar (10.2 and 10.2.1) has robbed Mac OS X users of this valuable and more efficient option.



    Please restore 3rd party access to command-tab for application switching!<hr></blockquote>



    Escher
  • Reply 16 of 24
    bellebelle Posts: 1,574member
    [quote]Originally posted by Escher:

    <strong>I don't always know which app I used last, I shouldn't have to. To get visual feedback from Apple's dock switcher you have to look down at the dock.</strong><hr></blockquote>

    I guess it depends how you work. Typically, I'm working in one app, and will only have to flip to another. For example, I'll be writing long, boring reports in Word, then switch to Mail when I hear the new mail bong, then switch back again. It's fairly unusual for me to switch regularly between more than two apps.



    If I do, I use LaunchBar. Apple-space, then "ow" for OmniWeb, or "it" for iTunes. It's great. It's context-free. You don't even have to pick from a list once it's well trained, unlike most application switchers.
  • Reply 17 of 24
    escherescher Posts: 1,811member
    [quote]Originally posted by Telomar:

    <strong>Don't take offence to this but when I hear something like that I have to wonder exactly how lazy it is some people have become.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Telomar: This has nothing to do with lazyness. The issue is elegance and, more importantly, efficiency of the user interface. People who use keyboard shortcuts and macros don't do so because they are lazy. They want to simplify or avoid repetitive tasks, work more efficiently and be more productive.



    When I use command-tab (now alt-tab) to switch applications several hundred times a day, I save dozens of minutes. Without that, finding my trackpad and pointing and clicking in the dock would be a waste of time. Same goes for Apple's dock-based application switcher. I do not want to take my eyes off my documents when I switch applications. That would be inefficent.



    Escher (trying not to take offense)



    [ 09-26-2002: Message edited by: Escher ]</p>
  • Reply 18 of 24
    escherescher Posts: 1,811member
    [quote]Originally posted by Belle:

    <strong>I guess it depends how you work... It's fairly unusual for me to switch regularly between more than two apps... If I do, I use LaunchBar. Apple-space, then "ow" for OmniWeb, or "it" for iTunes. It's great. It's context-free. You don't even have to pick from a list once it's well trained, unlike most application switchers.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Belle: The Word/Mail combination (I actually still use Eudora) is a regular situation for me as well, although I often add Chimera (with one tab for Lexis or Westlaw and one tab for the NY Times) to the mix. Regardless of the number of applications we use, however, Mac OS X users should still have a choice of application switchers. This choice should include a complete substitution of Apple's command-tab switcher.



    I've never tried LaunchBar. But the way you describe its use, it seems more cumbersome. I think I would be faster keying command-tab (tab, tab...), all with my left hand, than command-space, with my two thumbs, and then "o" and "w", with my left and right ring fingers. Maybe I'm playing devil's advocate. Maybe I simply like to see where I could be going in the middle of my screen. I'll check out LaunchBar.



    Escher



    [ 09-26-2002: Message edited by: Escher ]</p>
  • Reply 19 of 24
    bellebelle Posts: 1,574member
    [quote]Originally posted by Escher:

    <strong>I've never tried LaunchBar. But the way you describe its use, it seems more cumbersome. I think I would be faster keying command-tab (tab, tab...), all with my left hand, than command-space, with my two thumbs, and then "o" and "w", with my left and right ring fingers. Maybe I'm playing devil's advocate. Maybe I simply like to see where I could be going in the middle of my screen. I'll check out LaunchBar.</strong><hr></blockquote>

    It's not actually intended to be used as a switcher. It's more a launcher for apps and documents. I guess I've just gotten really quick at the Apple-space thing.



    Honestly, I use it so much. Go get <a href="http://www.obdev.at/products/launchbar/"; target="_blank">LaunchBar</a>!



    And anyone who does - this is one where you really need to read the manual. Not because it's difficult to use, but because you won't believe how much it can do!



    The developer is working to add Address Book compatibility, and thanks to a member of our forums, iTunes too.



    PS. I am not being paid to say this.
  • Reply 20 of 24
    telomartelomar Posts: 1,804member
    [quote]Originally posted by Escher:

    <strong>



    Telomar: This has nothing to do with lazyness. The issue is elegance and, more importantly, efficiency of the user interface. People who use keyboard shortcuts and macros don't do so because they are lazy. They want to simplify or avoid repetitive tasks, work more efficiently and be more productive.



    When I use command-tab (now alt-tab) to switch applications several hundred times a day, I save dozens of minutes. Without that, finding my trackpad and pointing and clicking in the dock would be a waste of time. Same goes for Apple's dock-based application switcher. I do not want to take my eyes off my documents when I switch applications. That would be inefficent.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Switching applications is by its very nature inefficient, all actions are, and to be perfectly honest I have never found switching and having to glance down at the dock has ever slowed me to other more refined methods. That may well just be me though. You generally lose the same fractions of a second in reorienting your mind.



    Similarly unless you are running your applications as a tileset on your screen, which is highly likely to be reducing your efficiency, you are going to lose sight of them.



    If you want to say it's about elegance then that I can appreciate but efficiency is going to be far more effected by other areas, not least of which is trying to work flat out, which I am relatively confident we would find increases your error count and we wouldn't want inefficiency.



    Of course if it is just a matter of elegance, refinement and personal taste then it is a matter for Apple to look at. Judging by the fact that very few people actually use Apple's app switcher, to my knowledge, it probably could warrant some tweaking. Ultimately where they prioritise altering it will be decided on consumer feedback so feedback is definitely a route to take. Of course I did notice you lacked mention of it in your last piece of feedback.



    In the mean time if squashing all inefficiency is such an esential part of your workspace I would encourage you to contract someone to write a 3rd party utility that suits your needs. Generally in-house software development can be reclaimed as a tax deduction so ultimately you can recover investment. If you are unwilling to pay the price associated with correcting efficiency loss in this area I would contend to you it probably isn't as major as you currently make out.
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